Actor Bob Hoskins had to risk his safety and turn stunt-man in his latest TV show - after blundering bosses hired a double who was a foot taller than him.

The Mrs Henderson Presents star stands at just five feet six inches (1.67 metres), and often has a stunt double stand in for him on set for dangerous scenes.

But he was forced to film his own stunts for BBC drama The Street, after TV chiefs accidentally hired someone too tall to emanate Hoskins.

He says, "I wound up doing my own stunts because, when the stunt man turned up, he was six foot six inches. I know how to act - it's being bashed up that's not such fun. I've done quite a few fight scenes in my time, but this one was quite tough."